Sunday, December 25, 2016

MANILA, 12/25/16 -- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 5 Regional Director Arnel Garcia on Sunday morning said that there were 1,064 families equivalent to 4,207 persons being served in the evacuation centers due to typhoon 'Nina'.

These families currently occupy six evacuation centers with sound structures to safely accommodate the evacuees.

These were families identified to be living in high-risk areas who heeded the pre-emptive evacuation.

As of 9:30am, under their DSWD 5 Disaster Operation monitoring, residents of the eight barangays in three local government units, namely, Guinobatan town in Albay and the towns of Buhi and Garchitorena in Camarines Sur, are being served in the said evacuation centers.

The hot meals were provided from the prepositioned goods in anticipation of the possible impact of 'Nina' which is expected to make a landfall on Sunday night.

In line with this, the provinces of Catanduanes and Albay were declared under "state of imminent danger/disaster" as Nina approaches as part of the early preparation.

The purpose of the declaration through resolutions is to prepare for the next logical step, which is the declaration of a State of Calamity.

This will give the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (LDRRMC) greater access to funds that may be needed as the provincial government responds to the needs of its people.

Meanwhile, in the midst of all the preparation for the disaster operations, DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo in her Christmas message called on to the people to unite in providing any needed speedy assistance and compassionate service to fellowmen that can be affected by any natural or man-made calamities in order to build a country with freedoms, prosperity, and peace for all including the vulnerable sectors of society. (PNA)